How has the Political Economy Historically Evolved?

The first development of political economy as a formal academic discipline took place in the mid-18th century, even though the roots of the idea can be found in the works of philosophers like Aristotle, Plato, David Hume, Adam Smith, and economists like Sir James Stuart, Karl Marx, and Francois Quesnay. Political theorists like Niccolo Machiavelli have also written greatly about the subject.

Scholars have often looked at the roles and responsibilities of the state for economic regulation. And this very idea evolved into the modern-day political economy, which examines the state’s power and functions in administering and distributing wealth.��

Why is Political Economy so Important?

The distribution of wealth and resources is among the core concepts of political economy. Political economists are tasked with the responsibility to study and analyze the economic distribution through the practical lens of economics, politics, and sociology. In short, political economy is quite important for many things that aid governments in making significant choices. Here are the reasons why Political Economy has so much importance.��

1. Political economy studies how political institutions, government decisions, and the interests of various political groups shape a country’s economic policies and outcomes.
2. The field also explores how economic factors influence political decision-making and public policy. Macroeconomic indicators such as inflation, employment levels, and supply–demand dynamics can significantly impact market activity, consumer behavior, and government priorities.
3. Political economy uses economic frameworks and theories to better understand political behavior and policy formulation. Governments and political actors often rely on these theories to design policies that aim to influence economic growth, social welfare, and the long-term development of a nation.

The political economy has a significant role in building a readily functioning and progressive country with a strong government. It is often considered the driving force for several political, economic, and policy decisions with a definite plan and outcome.��

What are the Key Components of Political Economy?

Political economy plays a crucial role in helping governments and political institutions design policies that promote economic growth, improve living standards, and address societal needs. Drawing inspiration from frameworks such as game theory, the study of political economy examines how different groups compete for limited resources while proposing��policies that promise the most beneficial outcomes for society. To analyze these complex interactions, political economy relies on several key areas of study.

Interdisciplinary Approach
Political economy is inherently interdisciplinary, bringing together insights from political science, economics, and sociology. This approach helps scholars understand how economic systems, political institutions, and social structures interact with one another. By examining these relationships, political economy sheds light on how policy decisions affect governance, markets, society, and even environmental outcomes.

New Political Economy
The concept of the “new political economy” builds upon both classical and contemporary political and economic theories. Rather than treating economic policies as fixed frameworks, this approach views them as evolving ideas that must be debated and evaluated in relation to societal needs. It emphasizes the roles of the state, markets, and institutions while encouraging critical discussion on how policies should respond to public interests and changing economic realities.

International Political Economy
International political economy focuses on the economic relationships between nations. It examines global interactions such as international trade, financial flows, foreign aid, and technological cooperation. This field draws heavily from economics and international relations while also incorporating perspectives from political science and sociology to understand how global economic systems shape international politics.

Together, these components form the foundation of political economy. By combining multiple perspectives and analytical frameworks, they provide scholars and policymakers with a comprehensive understanding of how political decisions and economic systems influence one another at both national and global levels.

What are the Different Political Economy Theories?

As an academic field built with borrowed ideologies from other disciplines, Political Economy has devised its own theories. There are three types of theories that notably drive Political Economy and its application in the real world. The three prominent Political Economy theories are explained below.��

Capitalism: In both Political Science and Economics, Capitalism is a much-revered system that takes profit as its prime motivation and advocates for the ability of free markets to regulate the economy, especially for private individuals and entities with self-preserving interests. These private players control most of the production and distribution, set prices, and create supply and demand.

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Socialism: The noble ideology of Socialism gives the power back into the hands of society, instead of private parties and interested individuals. The society demands participation from its subjects to divide production and resources, regardless of status, wealth, and position. It is one of those ideologies that aims to bridge disparities between the rich and the poor.��

Communism: While the ideas and intentions behind Communism and Socialism may often clash, there are certain indistinguishable differences, such as the inclusion of governmental power in Communism. Communism can be best described as a hopeful dream that wishes for a government to be responsible and transparent in providing social welfare for citizens, equal opportunities, the abolition of classes, and the creation of stronger communities.

These theories of Political Economy have real-life examples which make them much more relatable in the current context of the world. As an interdisciplinary subject, these theories also have roots in related fields, further conforming to their cultural presence.

How to Obtain an Academic Degree in Political Economy?

There are only a few institutions and universities offering a degree in political economy especially with a strategic and systematic approach.��

Are you looking to pursue a B.Arch degree in the future? In India, three of the primary gateway exams – NATA, JEE Main Paper 2, and AAT – can help pave your architectural journey.

Over the past five years, qualifying marks, registration numbers, and testing formats have evolved. As we look ahead to 2026, staying grounded in accurate, data-driven insights will help you plan effectively. This blog walks through all key exams, presents year-wise statistics with exact figures, highlights what’s changing, and guides your preparation with a clear action plan.

1. NATA – National Aptitude Test in Architecture

NATA, conducted by the Council of Architecture, remains the most widely accepted test for B.Arch. admissions across institutions in India.

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Here are the official qualifying marks from the past five years:

• NATA qualifying marks 2021: 70 / 200.coa.gov.in • NATA qualifying marks 2022: 70 / 200.coa.gov.in • NATA qualifying marks 2023: 70 / 200 (CoA notices and brochures). coa.gov.in
• NATA qualifying marks 2024: 70 / 200. coa.gov.in
• NATA qualifying marks 2025: published brochure records 60 / 200 in the document (see official brochure). nata.in

Why does this matter?

A drop from 70 to 60 (as in the 2025 brochure copy) lowers the immediate qualifying hurdle; however, college-wise cutoffs for admission are separate and usually higher. Use the official NATA brochure for the authoritative qualifying rule each year. nata.in

2. JEE Main – Paper 2 (B.Arch / B.Planning) (National Testing Agency)

JEE Main Paper 2 (Paper-2A for B.Arch) tests Mathematics, Aptitude, and Drawing, and is conducted by NTA. NTA publishes session-wise NTA scores, state toppers, and registration/attendance statistics in official press releases.

• Representative official numbers:
  For JEE (Main) 2024 Paper 2 (January session), the press release reports registered for Paper-2A (B.Arch): 68,147 and appeared: 51,570; for Paper-2B (B.Planning) registered: 36,672 and appeared: 24,876. These totals and the state-wise NTA scores are in the NTA press release for the 2024 session. jeemain.nta.ac.in
• For JEE (Main) 2025 (merged Paper-2 sessions), the NTA press release records registered in B.Arch: 91,378 and appeared: 63,378; for B.Planning registered: 41,012 and appeared: 26,590. These exact totals are in the 2025 release. Cdn Bbsr

Cutoffs/percentiles — NTA publishes category-wise percentiles (and press notes) for JEE Main; for Paper-1 (B.E./B.Tech), the UR qualifying percentile in 2024 was 93.2362181 and in 2023 90.7788642 (these are the NTA cut-off percentiles used for eligibility for JEE Advanced and reflect national competitiveness). Use the NTA press notes for precise percentiles year-by-year. jeemain.nta.ac.inNational Testing Agency

3. AAT (Architecture Aptitude Test) – JEE Advanced (IITs)

AAT is the separate pen-and-paper test for candidates who clear JEE Advanced and wish to seek B.Arch at IITs. The B.Arch programmes at IITs are limited to a few institutes (IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, and IIT (BHU) Varanasi). For 2025, the AAT was scheduled on 5 June 2025 (the JEE Advanced portal and AAT pages record the date and registration window). JEE AdvancedGalaxy Education

4. State common entrance mechanisms

Many states run centralised admission processes that use NATA or JEE Main Paper 2 scores rather than a separate architecture exam. Examples: Maharashtra CAP accepts NATA or JEE Main scores for B.Arch admissions (CET cell pages and the Maharashtra architecture portal make this explicit). Karnataka CE/KEA asks applicants to submit NATA scores for architecture admissions through KCET-style counselling. Always check the state CET cell brochure for the exact rule in that state and year. Arch 2024CET Online

What is changing (and likely to affect the exam for Architecture in 2026)

1. NATA qualifying rule revision – the official 2025 brochure contains the change in qualifying criteria (documented minimum and an overall qualifying mark shown inside the brochure). Colleges will still set institution cutoffs separately. nata.in
2. Exam design and delivery – since 2021-2025 NATA and JEE have moved to hybrid formats (online objective sections plus pen-and-paper drawing for NATA and JEE Paper 2) and CoA/NTA have formalised multi-session scoring rules. Expect NATA windows in March–June and JEE Main in January and April to continue in 2026, unless authorities announce otherwise. The 2025 schedules show NATA running from 1 March to June 2025 and JEE Main in January and April sessions; AAT in early June after JEE Advanced. Use these as the best available basis for 2026 planning until the authorities publish official calendars. nata.injeemain.nta.ac.inJEE Advanced
3. Demand and seats – the Council of Architecture lists the number of recognised architecture institutions (roughly 360+ in public COA listings), so admission pressure is moderate but uneven across top schools and the broader set of colleges. Exact institution counts are published on CoA pages. coa.gov.in Best Colleges

How to prepare for Exam 2026 for Architecture (practical, evidence-based plan)

1. Know the test you aim for��

If you target IITs, prepare for JEE Advanced first and AAT after that. If you aim for most colleges, focus on NATA and JEE Main Paper 2 format practice. The AAT eligibility requires JEE Advanced clearance. JEE Advancednata.in

1. Concrete targets from recent years

Aim to exceed the historical qualifying marks comfortably. For NATA, until 2024, the qualifying mark was 70/200, so a target score of 110–130/200 will be competitive at many colleges. After the 2025 policy, treat the NATA qualifying mark from the brochure and college cutoffs separately. For JEE Main Paper 2, aim for percentile bands substantially above the official eligibility percentiles for engineering because B.Arch seats at premier institutes are competitive (see NTA percentiles for context). nata.injeemain.nta.ac.in

1. Daily routine (3–4 months plan)

• Weeks 1–4: fundamentals in Mathematics (coordinate geometry, mensuration) and regular free-hand drawing practice 30–60 minutes daily.��
• Weeks 5–12: timed full-length mocks for the specific paper (NATA or JEE Paper 2), analyse weak topics, and strengthen spatial aptitude tests.
• Final 4 weeks: past paper review, drawing portfolios, simulation of test day conditions.

1. Use official resources and statistics��

Download the official NATA brochure and NTA press notes to monitor the exact qualifying rules, session schedule, and the official answer keys. The precise numbers in this brief are taken from those official documents and should be checked again when the 2026 calendar is published. nata.injeemain.nta.ac.in��

5. Track Trends

• If the NATA qualifying mark remains near 60 in 2026, your margin matters- target 120+ for a strong ranking
• Rising candidate numbers (90k+ registered in 2025) point to increased competition- consistent practice and high accuracy are vital

Entrance Exam for Architecture 2026: Quick Checklist for Aspirants

• Register promptly for NATA and/or JEE Main Paper 2 when registration opens.
• Dedicate daily practice to freehand drawings (perspective, proportion, shading).
• Take timed mocks; track performance and percentile.
• If targeting IITs, align JEE Advanced prep with your AAT plan. (AAT 2025 date, NATA brochure)
• Stay updated with CoA’s list of institutions (360+ recognized colleges). (source)��

Quick Recap

Final Words

Your B.Arch journey relies heavily on staying informed, disciplined practice, and surpassing historical cutoffs with confidence. The exact numbers, such as the qualifying marks, registration counts, and exam dates, come from official sources. The dates mentioned are tentative, and you need to regularly verify the information on your own discretion. Start your 2026 architectural journey today with clarity.

What is counselling psychology?

Psychology is all about understanding concerns and conditions affecting mental health and devising plans that effectively bring about changes to their lives, and one such way is through counselling. Counselling psychology is a subfield of Psychology, where the patient is sent to a licensed psychologist for counselling sessions to discuss their problems and the best course of treatment.��

Counselling psychologists in practice use a broad range of cultural, social, and personal information to determine the cause of crisis or distress, and actively work on resolving each issue so patients can function without mental or emotional outbursts and live a balanced life.��

Who Is The Right Candidate For Specializing In Counselling Psychology?

Patients with psychological issues tend to require special care and attention, which the psychologists have been trained and equipped to perform. Hence, the qualities that are most valued in psychology are empathy, compassion, understanding, communication, and lastly, professionalism.��

Along with this, a master’s degree in counselling psychology teaches you tactical skills like counselling techniques, personality theory, developmental psychology, and client assessment and evaluation. Aspiring psychologists must complete the following steps to build the knowledge and skills required to start practising as a professional psychologist.

Step 1: To choose psychology as a profession, you will need to get a bachelor’s degree or a basic undergraduate degree from a recognized university. Undergraduate programmed in Counselling Psychology are rare, and the basic undergraduate degrees offer a broader understanding.��

Step 2: After completing your 4-year undergraduate programmed, ambitious students will already be seeking to pursue an advanced educational qualification, through a master’s degree in psychology or even a specialized master’s degree in counselling psychology.��

Step 3: To further increase your academic qualification and to acquire a license for practising, a doctoral degree is often considered essential. It is a programmed that usually takes about 4 years to complete, and may include research papers as well.

Step 4: While you are at it, you must also apply for internships and may even have to go through several hours of training under the supervision of licensed psychologists. Becoming��a counselling psychologist requires years of supervised training and hands-on experience, along with meeting the licensing or registration guidelines set by relevant authorities

These steps are the most straightforward to becoming a successful psychologist with a state licensure to start practising right away. These programmed prepare students with professional expertise and experience, so they become competent with their techniques. A counselling psychologist is specifically known for their counselling sessions and the use of various methods to reach their patients.

Why Should You Major In Counselling Psychology?

Counselling psychology is a course that focuses on practising psychological techniques for counselling and includes medical practices. It enables you to perform psychological evaluation, counselling, and suggest potential solutions to patients to alleviate their mental health troubles. There can be tons of reasons for anybody to major in counselling psychology, and some of them can be as follows:��

• The most important reason that often gets undermined in this materialistic world is that mental health counselling is a noble profession that makes a huge difference in the patient’s life, regardless of what they get paid.��
• Talking about career prospects and paychecks, after majoring in Counselling Psychology, you can apply to become a counsellor across different sectors, such as education, healthcare, corporate, industry, etc.��
• While professional fields are mostly known for the practical application of knowledge, some professional spaces provide the opportunity to learn in the field and improvise on an individual approach accordingly.

If you have a genuine interest in professionally helping other people with their personal and life struggles, then counselling psychology can be something you must look into. Along with the educational qualifications, soft skills like good communication, compassionate behaviour, and exceptional listening skills are highly valued in the field of psychology.��

How Will The Counselling Psychology Degree Be Materialized In The Professional Field?

The rise of mental health awareness across sectors and the normalization of psychological practices have obviously been beneficial for psychologists and psychology students, and researchers. As the importance of mental health gets normalized across fields, the need for psychologists and counsellors across sectors has increased significantly. With a Counselling Psychology degree, you can apply for the following job posts.��

• Clinical Social Worker
• Adult & Geriatric Counsellor
• School Counsellor
• Sports Psychologist
• Organizational Counsellor
• Health Psychologist
• Group Counsellor or Therapist
• Corporate Wellness Officer

The Counselling Psychology master’s degree allows you to become a counsellor in almost any field or sector, as long as you have the necessary skills and knowledge of various professional techniques to treat patients.��

What Can You Expect To Learn In A Counselling Psychology Degree Course?

A counselling psychology degree focuses on the different psychological methods used for treating certain psychological problems and assisting in real-life cases alongside licensed psychologists to gain experience of the actual sessions. The course may include electives or specialized research options, which can be good for aiming for a specific career within psychology.��

How Counselling Psychology Differs From Clinical Psychology?

People often get rightfully confused between Clinical Psychology and Counselling Psychology. To be fair, both are only different sub-fields of psychology with a different approach toward psychological treatments and a similarity in the ultimate goal of promoting positive growth and mental well-being.��

Clinical psychology is more lenient toward mediational treatment, and the cases often feature severe mental conditions, which demand medical attention and intervention. Whereas counselling psychology is more focused on a dialogue-driven approach with activities and positive changes that lead to a better and healthier way of living.

You can become a counselling psychologist with a master’s degree and by completing the necessary procedure for applying for state licensure. However, to become a clinical psychologist, you need a doctorate degree and hours and years of experience among professionals.

Films, cinema, or movies, however you phrase it, are a popular medium of entertainment and information consisting of photographic and videographic instances. The visual art in motion pictures has duly attracted audiences from all walks of life in celebrating and experiencing the magic of cinema. Today’s filmmaking courses build on the fundamental ideas established by the pioneers of cinema, while incorporating modern technologies and tools that shape contemporary filmmaking.

A Brief History of Cinema & Film-Making

Beginning from the end of the 19th century and the early 20th century, the world witnessed the emergence of cinema as a form of mass media. Since its inception, it has quickly become an effective medium for evoking emotions, disseminating information, or propaganda. For instance, during the war years, cinema increasingly became political and was used by national leaders to spread propaganda.��

Despite rapid technological shifts, the art of cinema has not lost its appeal. With visionaries like Jean-Luc Godard, Federico Fellini, François Truffaut, and Alfred Hitchcock, the film industry and the craft of filmmaking took a significant leap forward. By the late 1900s, cinema had become a cultural favourite, with moving images captivating audiences far beyond the camera’s frame.

Popular Types of Film Genres

Historically, films have been used to portray a story, send a message, spread propaganda, or simply mesmerise audiences with their visual artistry. The diverse interpretations of films eventually gave rise to a wide range of popular genres. Some of these genres are inspired by storytelling devices used in literature, and the following genres are among the popular art forms in cinema that we see today.��

• Action
• Comedy
• Horror
• Romance
• Thriller
• Adventure
• Drama
• Fantasy
• Mystery
• Historical
• Crime
• Science Fiction

All these genres are further divided into sub-genres, which can be explored in depth through Filmmaking Courses. An essential aspect of filmmaking is film production, as the techniques employed play a crucial role in shaping a film’s style. In mainstream cinema, five distinct styles are commonly recognized: Film Noir, Documentary, German Expressionism, Italian Neorealism, and Spaghetti Western.

What are the 5 C’s of Cinematography?

To create a film from scratch, one must understand the different stages of film production. Visual storytelling, through stills and moving images, relies on essential filmmaking concepts and techniques, including the renowned 5 C’s of cinematography.

• Continuity
• Camera Angles
• Cutting
• Close-Ups
• Composition

Without the knowledge of these 5 C’s of cinematography making a cohesive film can be extremely challenging for anybody. However, experimentation in filmmaking is nothing unheard of, and many directors often take different routes to capture authenticity in their lenses.

Can a Film-Making Course Really Help you Build a Career in Cinema?

Filmmaking Courses are designed to provide students with an overall experience of the world of filmmaking, introducing them to the different departments and parts of the process of film production. As a student, understanding the various elements of filmmaking helps them choose a specialisation and establish a career in the same segment.��

The world of filmmaking and cinema is vast, and the different elements of filmmaking are combined in a coherent way to create the final product for audiences. Cinematography, screenplay, direction, sound design, editing, colour, light, and even the acting are all different elements of the filmmaking process, and you can choose a career in any of these areas.����

Subjects in a Film Making Course

Since film production is a multifaceted process, students of film and media are equipped with foundational knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of the craft. This requires familiarity with the history, forms, elements, principles, and contemporary practices of filmmaking and production. Filmmaking courses typically cover the following subjects:

• Mass Media & Communication
• Sound in Society
• Craft of Moving Images
• Podcasting & Audio Storytelling
• Modern World Literature
• Performance
• Photography
• Direction & Screenplay
• Editing
• Principles of Sound Recording
• Critical Perspectives on the Anthropocene
• Continuity & Narrative Cinema
• Continuity & Camera
• Continuity & Editing
• Field Recording & Sound Editing
• Gender & Sexuality
• Montage & Mise-en-Scène
• Camera, Choreography, Movement
• Advanced Editing
• Sound Design for Films
• Documentary/ Non-Fiction
• Cinematography
• Film History
• Sound
• Production Design/ Editing
• Direction, Screenwriting & Film Studies

Film industries have become giants in the past few decades, producing films in astronomical numbers. With the advancement in film technology and the introduction of tools like Artificial Intelligence has further broadened the scope for students of film studies in acquiring a job in the industry.��

Film Making Skills Translating to Job Roles

In the formal offered at universities, students are encouraged to develop specific skills in filmmaking, later translating to diverse employment opportunities. These filmmaking skills include screenwriting, cinematography, camera work, editing, photography, direction, set design, and many more. Students can choose the field they wish to pursue. The following are some of the job roles associated with the film industry.��

• Film Director
• Film/Video Editor
• Actor
• Broadcast Presenter
• Production Designer
• Location Manager
• Production Researcher
• Television Production Coordinator
• Film Producer
• Director of Photography
• Lighting Technician
• Costume Designer
• Sound Technician
• Music Producer
• VFX Artist
• Writer
• Sound Engineer
• Animator

These are just a few of the many job roles available in the filmmaking industry, with countless others to explore. As a creative field with a strong commercial dimension, filmmaking courses in India are designed to provide insight into both aspects. Ultimately, it is up to the student to decide which path they wish to pursue.

Ways to Improve Filmmaking Skills

Filmmaking is a collective effort with multiple departments working in tandem to make a complete project. Hence, along with the technical skills of filmmaking, they must also learn to work in a team and communicate properly with others to make the process of movie-making much more enthusiastic.��

• A formal course on filmmaking is the very first step to understanding the different sides of film production and developing the essential skills required for the job.��
• Along with attending classes, it is important to gain practical experience in the field or start working independently to create your mark and an impressive portfolio, too.��
• Get an internship or a job with diverse film production company and learn from the industry experts about the hidden elements of filmmaking.��

Filmmaking Courses at the Jindal School of Journalism & Communication place strong emphasis on hands-on practice and learning within the classroom. Beyond the classroom, students benefit from guest lectures by industry experts, participation in workshops, and opportunities to secure valuable internship experiences.